BASEBALL MISCELLANY

NAMES AND NUMBERS

* The Steve Howe Legacy: The Dodgers’ five-year pursuit of a left-handed relief pitcher is believed to be centered on Paul Kilgus of the Toronto Blue Jays. Kilgus was 6-10 with the Chicago Cubs last year and pitched previously for the Texas Rangers, where he is said to have impressed Mel Didier, the Dodger special assignment scout based in Arlington, Tex. The Blue Jays want to improve their outfield depth.

* Basement Bengals: Two former Angels, Urbano Lugo and Dan Petry, are among seven previously released pitchers on the patchwork staff of Sparky Anderson’s Detroit Tigers. The average age of the 27-man roster is 30.

* Rebuilding: The Montreal Expos, hurt by free-agent losses, will start three rookies: center fielder Marquis Grissom, right fielder Larry Walker and second baseman Delino DeShields. Said David Martinez, the incumbent center fielder: “I don’t think I can accept this.”

* Add Expos: After parts of four years in the bullpens of the Cubs and Rangers, Drew Hall is trying to give Montreal some left-handed relief. Said Manager Buck Rodgers: “He has a good arm and good delivery, so any problem he has must be between his ears.”

* Rebuffed Red: Rick Mahler, 1-8 over the second half of last season, has won the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starting spot over Ron Robinson, who told Cincinnati writers: “I’m not going to be their right-handed set-up man. I want to play for Cincinnati, but if they ask me to relieve, I won’t be wearing a Red uniform.” Responded Manager Lou Piniella: “Pitchers are not going to tell me where and when they’re going to pitch.”

* Tremors: The Oakland A’s Bob Welch, saying he is still troubled by the Bay Area earthquake that destroyed his home in the Marina area of San Francisco, completed his spring work with a yield of 23 hits and 22 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings. In another problem spot in the A’s rotation, Scott Sanderson and Curt Young will face the San Francisco Giants today, their respective effectiveness determining who replaces Storm Davis as the fourth starter. Free agent Sanderson has been restricted to simulated games by a pulled groin muscle.

* Eye of the Needle: Because of his four-year, $15-million contract, the Giants’ Will Clark is known as Donald Trump to teammate Kevin Mitchell, who was alluding to Clark’s scalp when he told Bay Area writers, “Of course, if I had Donald Trump’s money, I’d go out and buy me some hair.”

* Red Sox Reshuffling: There is some belief that Wade Boggs will become Boston’s first baseman before the season is over, with rookie Tim Naehring taking over at third. For the present, Carlos Quintana and Billy Jo Robidoux will platoon at first, with the ghost that is Bill Buckner among the team’s opening-day 27. Said Buckner: “I’m either going to play in Fenway Park or Folsom Prison. If I don’t make the team, I’ll murder someone.”

* Who Needs 27?: “I don’t,” San Diego Padre Manager Jack McKeon said. “It’s just ridiculous. There’s not going to be enough work for them. All this does is help out the clubs who have no idea what they’re doing. Now they get another three weeks to decide. It’s like going to the winter meetings without a trading deadline.”

* Captain Pudge: The appointment of Carlton Fisk and Ozzie Guillen gives the Chicago White Sox co-captains for the first time since 1930. Fisk and Manager Jeff Torborg reportedly exchanged words over it, Fisk wanting to make sure he wasn’t being asked to be a management mole. “I had to clarify what it meant,” he said. “I’m a player first.”

* Misnomer? Having pitched eight scoreless innings through Thursday without permitting a walk, the Cubs’ Mitch Williams was asked if he thought he might lose his nickname, Wild Thing? “No, I think I’ll still throw enough balls that it will remain intact,” he said.